Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2015 - 2021 Owners Manual: Exterior lighting

Information about lighting systems and your responsibility

The various lighting systems of the vehicle are only aids. The driver of the vehicle is responsible for correct vehicle illumination in accordance with the prevailing light and visibility conditions, legal requirements and traffic situation.

Light switch

Operating the light switch

1. Left standing light

2. Right standing light

3. Parking lights and license plate lamp

4. Automatic driving lights (preferred light switch position)

5. Low beam/high beam

6. Switches the rear fog lights on or off

When low beam is activated, the indicator lamp for the parking lights is deactivated and replaced by the low beam indicator lamp.

• Always park your vehicle safely and in a welllit area, in accordance with the relevant legal stipulations.

In the case of severe battery discharging, the standing lights or parking lights are automatically switched off to facilitate the next engine start.

The exterior lighting (except standing and parking lights) switches off automatically when the driver's door is opened.

• Observe the notes on surround lighting.

Automatic driving lights function

The parking lights, low beam and daytime running lamps are switched on automatically depending on the ignition status and the ambient light.

WARNING Risk of accident when the low beam is switched off in poor visibility

When the light switch is set to , the low beam may not be switched on automatically if there is fog, snow or other causes of poor visibility such as spray. In such cases, turn the light switch to .

The automatic driving lights are only an aid. You are responsible for vehicle lighting.

Switching the rear fog lights on or off

Requirements:

• The light switch is in the or position.

• Press the button.

Please observe the country-specific laws on the use of rear fog lamps.

Adjusting the headlamp range (vehicles with halogen headlamps)

The headlamp range adjuster allows you to adjust the cone of light from the headlamps in relation to the vehicle's load condition.

0 - Driver's seat and front passenger seat occupied
1 - Driver's seat, front passenger seat and rear seats occupied
2 - Driver's seat, front passenger seat and rear seats occupied, trunk laden
3 - Driver's seat and front passenger seat occupied and maximum permissible rear axle load utilized

• Turn the headlamp range adjuster to the position that corresponds to the load condition of your vehicle.

Operating the combination switch for the lights

1. High beam
2. Turn signal indicator, right
3. High-beam flasher
4. Turn signal indicator, left

• Use the combination switch to activate the desired function.

High beam

• To switch on: turn the light switch to the   or position.
• Press the combination switch beyond the point of resistance in the direction of arrow 1.

  When the high beam is activated, the indicator lamp for low beam will be deactivated and replaced by the indicator lamp for high beam.

• To switch off: move the combination switch back to its starting position.

High-beam flasher

• Pull the combination switch in the direction of arrow 3.

Turn signal lights

• To indicate briefly: press the combination switch briefly to the point of resistance in the direction of arrow 2 or 4.

  The corresponding turn signal indicator will flash three times.

• To indicate permanently: press the combination switch beyond the point of resistance in the direction of arrow 2 or 4.

  Vehicles with Active Lane Change Assist:

  • Indicator operation activated by the driver can extend for the duration of the lane change.
  • If the driver indicated immediately beforehand but a lane change was not immediately possible, the turn signal indicator may activate automatically.

Activating/deactivating the hazard warning lights

1. Press button 1 .

Cornering light

Cornering light function

The cornering light improves the illumination of the roadway over a wide angle in the turning direction, enabling better visibility on tight bends, for example. It can be activated only when the low beam is switched on.

The function is active:

• At speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h) when the turn signal light is switched on or the steering wheel is turned
• At speeds between 25 mph (40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h) when the steering wheel is turned

Traffic circle and intersection function: the cornering light is activated on both sides through an evaluation of the current GPS position of the vehicle. It remains active until after the vehicle has left the traffic circle or the intersection.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist

Adaptive Highbeam Assist function

Adaptive Highbeam Assist cannot take into account road, weather or traffic conditions.

Detection may be restricted in the following cases:

• in poor visibility, e.g. fog, heavy rain or snow
• if there is dirt on the sensors or the sensors are obscured

Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid. You are responsible for adjusting the vehicle's lighting to the prevailing light, visibility and traffic conditions.

The Adaptive Highbeam Assist automatically switches between the following types of light:

• Low-beam headlamps
• High beam

At speeds above 19 mph (30 km/h):

• If no other road users are detected, the high beam will be switched on automatically.

The high beam switches off automatically in the following cases:

• At speeds below 16 mph (25 km/h).
• If other road users are detected.
• If street lighting is sufficient.

At speeds above approximately 31 mph (50 km/h):

• The headlamp range of the low beam is regulated automatically based on the distance to other road users.

The system's optical sensor is located behind the windshield near the overhead control panel.

Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist on/off

• To switch on: turn the light switch to the position.
• Switch on the high beam using the combination switch.

  When the high beam is switched on automatically in the dark, the indicator lamp on the multifunction display comes on.

• To switch off: switch off the high beam using the combination switch.

Switching the daytime running lamps on/off

Multimedia system:

Vehicle → Light Settings → Daytime Run. Lights

• Activate or deactivate  the function.

Setting the exterior lighting switch-off delay time

Multimedia system:

Vehicle → Light Settings → Ext. Light Switch Off

• Set the switch-off delay time.

Setting the surround lighting

Multimedia system:

Vehicle → Light Settings → Locator Lighting

• Activate or deactivate the function.

If the surround lighting is switched on, the exterior lighting remains lit for 40 seconds after the vehicle is unlocked. When you start the vehicle, the surround lighting is deactivated and the automatic driving lights are activated.